SINGAPORE: Paul Tambyah has a benevolent kindness worthy of any good doctor and professor.
But the Professor of Medicine at the National University of Singapore and Senior Consultant at the Division of Infectious Diseases at the National University Hospital reminds me conscientiously that he is here in a completely different capacity.
"I must put an end to the disclaimer All I say here is my personal opinion and have nothing to do with the university or the university. hospital, "he says with a smile.
For good measure, I assure him that his "personal opinion" encompasses his views as President of the Opposition Democratic Party of Singapore (SDP), a post that he was elected in September last year.
"Of course," he says with a smile.
He believes that the privatization of health care is a "mistake", but is not a system fully managed by the state likely to be ineffective?
He recognizes it and suggests instead a national system of universal health insurance. the government supports the administration of insurance, but not the provision of services.
"The government is the financier but not the provider.It is what is happening in Australia and France.Germany to some extent."
His vision includes health care with minimal deductibles and co-payments.
When I raise the risk of overconsumption under such a system, he says that it can not be a direct effect of insurance.
"There is no direct evidence that a significant number of patients go out of their way to undergo unnecessary surgeries or treatments, simply because they are paid for by runners." Insurance or free .Most people do not like to see the doctor or undergo chemotherapy or injections or take bitter drugs. "
He says that the cases of overconsumption that we see today Could be due to other reasons.
asymmetry of information. Most people have very limited knowledge of medicine or medical procedures and depend on their health care providers to get the information they need to decide which procedures and which treatments are best for treating their ailments. For many reasons, including, primarily, the marketing of health care, which has led to the need to provide returns to shareholders who own major health care providers. For example, he says that some patients do certain tests and procedures as inpatients to "claim insurance benefits" and thereby maximize profits for health care infrastructure owners, rather than as ambulatory patients who would have been cheaper.
"The physician becomes an employee who must respond to the shareholder while maintaining an ethical practice vis-à-vis his patients.
He also points out that the forensic environment in Singapore and elsewhere could encourage doctors to potentially conduct an excessive investigation of patients for fear of prosecution or to be charged with negligence [19659016]. A national health insurance plan similar to that proposed in the SDP Healthcare Plan would avoid the problem of over-consumption by limiting benefits to procedures that are proven and supported by sound scientific evidence, "he explains.
. Like health care, of course, more money will be needed. I ask him how he thinks they can be generated.
"In Singapore currently, you do not have inheritance rights, you do not have to pay capital gains tax, you do not have to pay d & # 39; Dividend tax "
He thinks it's time for Singaporeans to do it
But could this make Singapore less competitive as a wealth management center?
" I do not think so because I think we have the skills, the individuals with the talents, the infrastructure, so if we go back to a more equitable and progressive tax system, I do not think we're going to sub- These are people who are just parking their money here.If they were paying a small price, I do not think they would feel so bad. "
Of the other policy issues that worry about it, there is housing.
"Somewhere, public housing has lost its purpose, instead of becoming a fundamental human right To have a roof over your head, with the asset enhancement policy, it has become a tool to multiply your wealth or vehicle of speculation. "
He calls it a" misguided "approach
When I notice that a lot of Singaporeans have benefited from it, he says it's just a" short-term gain. "
" If you have more money, then you should invest in private property. "
He also points out that the Department of National Development has recently highlighted the limits of HDB leases.
" I think the government is going to take care of it.They will probably extend the lease.It is too much a political time bomb. "
Paul Tambyah with SDP Secretary General, Chee Soon Juan. (Photo: Ryan Smith)
THE FUTURE OF THE OPPOSITION OF SINGAPORE
While we talk about the future of opposition in Singapore, something that he says is "on the cards" is an opposition
The SDP recently invited members of all other political parties to a private event where it appeared to him that their ideologies could be aligned.
"We recognize that we probably have more in common than what separates most of us in favor of transparency, accountability, social justice."
"Dr. Tan Cheng Bock was invited and he was going to come to our event but something happened at his place. He sent three of the highest members of his team and they were there, and we think that a personality like him, who sat in Parliament and who has successfully run election campaigns, could serve as a catalyst to bring together the people. "
When asked what role Dr. Tan could for mally play, Dr. Tambyah does not seem certain.
" I do not know what he's going to do but all that's going on. " he must do, if he decides to form his own political party, it is to bring all the other parties to form a coalition. Il y a beaucoup de possibilités différentes quant à ce qu'il pourrait faire. "
Ceci et l'idée d'une alliance est" une conversation en cours ", dit-il.
Je me demande comment son parti compte convaincre les électeurs de ses mérites dans le prochaine élection tenant compte de la performance du PAP lors des dernières élections et des nouvelles politiques qu'il a introduites depuis 2011.
"Il y a eu des projets tels que le Silver Support Scheme et le MediShield Life. une politique nationale complète d'assurance-maladie respectivement. Cependant, les deux sont sévèrement limités en termes de montant fourni (jusqu'à un maximum de 250 $ par mois) pour le Silver Support Scheme ou les franchises élevées pour MediShield Life. "
Il soulève également d'autres questions qui préoccupent Singapouriens.
"Les prix ont été majorés pour l'eau et l'électricité. Au SDP, nous considérons les soins de santé, les logements abordables et une éducation de qualité équitable comme des droits de l'homme fondamentaux qui devraient être garantis à tous ceux qui ne sont pas distribués comme des œuvres de charité ou qui sont commercialisés comme des marchandises. Le système de parti unique est un dinosaure qui est en voie d'extinction à Singapour. "
Sa vision idéale d'une démocratie est celle qui comprend de nombreux partis politiques.
" Je pense que ce qui est important est qu'il y aura une discussion libre »
Je lui demande ce qu'il pense des suggestions de certains selon lesquelles Singapour n'a pas besoin d'un système multipartite pour que la bonne gouvernance soit l'ordre. du jour.
"Je pense que l'histoire nous dit le contraire. Ce qui s'est passé au Mexique, à Taiwan et en Malaisie, c'est que la règle du parti unique ne peut pas survivre trop longtemps parce qu'elle se fossilise. Peu importe à quel point vous êtes bon, vous venez de vous fossiliser et c'est juste l'ordre des choses parce que vous avez besoin de gens pour vous garder sur vos orteils.
"Vous devez passer du temps dans l'opposition. Comme au Japon, le Parti libéral-démocrate était dans l'opposition pour une courte période et ensuite ils sont revenus et ils sont revenus mieux. Donc je pense que c'est inévitablement quelque chose qui va arriver. "
